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This paper examines the relationship between fertility and mode of mate selection in Urban Nigeria. Data for the study were derived from a 1987/88 survey of nine cities in the North, South-east and Southwest of Nigeria. Ever married women, aged 15 to 49 years, in selected households were interviewed. In addition to information on socio-economic characteristics, respondents also provided information on modes of mate selection, on perceptions of roles within marriage, on desired and achieved family sizes, and on childrearing practices. Distributions of women by mode of mate selection (family or self) and socio-economic variables show that women in family arranged unions marry much earlier (and hence have longer duration of exposure to childbearing oriented sexual relations), have lower levels of education before marriage, marry much older men and are less disposed to the use of contraception. With respect to fertility, our results show that the fertility of women in family arranged unions is generally higher than that of women in self arranged unions. In order to understand more adequately how mode of mate selection relates to fertility, regression models, in which three sets of test variables were controlled, were estimated. Separate estimates were obtained for women aged 15 to 24 years, 25 to 34 years and 35 years and above, respectively. The results show that the difference in fertility between the two groups of women is statistically significant and that the difference is attributable mainly to differences in prenuptial levels of education and in duration of marriage. The findings reinforce the call for improved education of women and programs of public education that encourage higher ages at marriage.

This paper examines the extent to which the traditional practice of sexual abstinence during lactation has broken down among Yoruba women residents in urban areas. The first major finding is that there is a gradual erosion of the tradition, and the dominant factors of modernization are education of the woman and the use of contraception. The second major finding is that the breakdown of postpartum sexual taboos has statistically significant negative consequences on duration of lactation, although the negative impact of woman's education is greater. The third major finding is that duration of breastfeeding reduces birth interval significantly only when it is less than 15 months, and that both durations of breastfeeding and birth intervals have declined over time. The first two findings suggest further reductions in the proportion of women who abstain from sexual relations during lactation and in durations of breastfeeding as more women become more educated. Significant declines in birth intervals may follow soon after.

Can married or cohabitating women in patriarchal societies, who are often disproportionately affected by STI/HIV infections, negotiate protective sex when perceived necessary by refusing sex or asking for condom use during sex? Protective sex negotiation was examined through measures of power relations related to whether or not a woman has a say in sexual activities within marriage. The study hypothesis was that women who are more able to refuse sex or ask for condom use before sexual intercourse will be more able to discuss and reach agreement with their spouses on protective sex practices when needed. The study used data from DHS surveys conducted in Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to predict women's ability to negotiate protective sex in Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. The findings show that moderately high percentages of women in both countries reported the ability to negotiate protective sex, with a higher percentage reporting the ability to refuse sex compared with the ability to ask partners to use a condom. The logistic regression results showed that, in the two countries, women's ability to refuse sex or ask their partners to use a condom, varied by gender- and power-mediating factors, women's characteristics and behavioural factors. The study draws attention to the need to intensify efforts to promote more-egalitarian relationships between partners through culturally appropriate interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used data on currently married and cohabiting men aged 15 to 64 years from the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with extramarital sex. The results show that 16% engaged in extramarital sex in the 12 months preceding the survey and had an average of 1.82 partners. The results also show statistically significant association between extramarital sex and ethnicity, religion, age, age at sexual debut, education, occupation, and place of residence. Based on the study results, it could be concluded that significant proportions of Nigerians are exposed to HIV infection through extramarital sex. A fundamental behavioral change expected in the era of HIV/AIDS is the inculcation of marital fidelity and emotional bonding between marital partners. The promotion of condom use among married couples should be intensified to protect women, a large number of whom are exposed to HIV infection from their spouses who engage in unprotected extramarital sex. And, because of gender-based power imbalances within the family, a large number of the women are unable to negotiate consistent condom use by their partners. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]